Around the NFL: First batch of power rankings

Saturday

Knowing now that we’ll regret half of it by November, we offer our first power rankings of the imminent 2008 season.

If we knew then what we know now, we’d have:

- Fully understood the Redskins making Tom Brady the No. 2 pick of the 2000 draft, instead of LaVar Arrington.

- Praised the Bears for grabbing Mr. Brady in Round 3 that year, rather than Dez White.

- Seen how the Browns could rationalize Tom-Boy as their Round 6 pick, in place of Spergon Wynn.

Knowing now that we’ll regret half of it by November, we offer our first power rankings of the imminent 2008 season. We wish we could come up with a better name than power rankings, and if you give us one, by golly, we’ll use it.

1. Patriots. When was the last time a 16-0 team went into a sudden slump?

2. Giants. Bill Belichick’s teams tend to be greater than the sum of their parts. Tom Coughlin’s certainly was that and more one fine day in February.

3. Chargers. They tore through the second half at 7-1 and beat the Colts in the playoffs, but what about Shawne Merriman’s torn-up knee?

4. Colts. It’s well past September for Jeff Saturday, 33. Peyton Manning will be 33 shortly after the Super Bowl. Is Obama as old as Marvin Harrison? Time waits for no one.

5. Cowboys. It’s as if Jerry Jones orders America to believe in the Cowboys, and no one asks any questions.

6. Browns. Leading the league in preseason injuries and bruised expectations.

7. Vikings. Obviously, Adrian Peterson can run. Tarvaris Jackson can throw. But (and we’re not talking about his sprained knee), can he play?

8. Eagles. Donovan McNabb is eight years younger than a certain No. 4 now playing up the interstate in New Jersey. Shouldn’t No. 5 have plenty left?

9. Jets. John Elway was only slightly younger than Brett Favre is now when he caught a strong second wind. Favre’s radical change hyperextends that point, but ...

10. Jaguars. Fred Taylor will turn 33 before the Super Bowl. They didn’t have a receiver with as much as 650 yards last year. David Garrard is tough, but something isn’t right.

11. Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger must ascend to the Brady-Manning stratosphere to offset the blockbuster losses of Jeff Hartings, Alan Faneca and Bill Cowher in the last two years.

12. Saints. Drew Brees (4,423 passing yards in 2007) will turn 30 during the postseason. He’ll be working during it.

13. Panthers. The Jake Delhomme-to-Steve Smith connection from that Super Bowl season showed signs of a comeback while the Panthers were pulverizing Washington 34-0 in the first half of preseason Game No. 3.

14. Bears: The defense needs to bring back the best of the Ditka days. Handing Devin Hester a $40 million deal reflects an offense grasping at straws.

15. Seahawks. The big last hurrah Mike Holmgren needs to make the Hall of Fame seems out of reach.

16. Cardinals: Ken Whisenhunt went 8-8 in his first year. The last Cardinals head coach with an above-.500 record during his run with the franchise was Don Coryell in the 1970s.

17. Titans: Will the real Vince Young please stand up? Or will rookie RB Chris Johnson allow him to rest easy?

18. Packers: Aaron Rodgers led Brett Favre 106.0-95.7 in passer rating last year. Favre led Rodgers 4,155-218 in passing yards. What a job, trying to make Lambeau Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood.